The Portland daily press., 1887-05-18
HOPES OF AN OPIUM EATER.
Sad Misfortunes of the Color Bearer
of the Nineteenth Maine.
The Commissioner of the Bureau OF
Industrial and Labor Statistics.
Matters of interest at the State Cap
ital and Elsewhere.

AUGUSTA, May 17.-Not few very sad
stories are told to the Governor and
Council in the course of a wear
by the attorneys or relatives of con
vietS who think that there are
some circumstances in their cases that will
move the Governor to clemency. One of the
most interesting of these stories was told in
the Council Chamber this forenoon by f.
Rice Rowell, a bright young lawyer from
Rockland. Mr.rRowell is counsel for Charles
Ii. Blackman. now serving out sentence
OF ten years for burglary. Blackman's wife
and her brother were present and corrober-
ated the lawyer as he told of the misfortunes
OF man who was once honored as a hero
and is now disgraeed as convict. There is
one word that explains it all, the same word
that explains great many tragedies these
uays-0plum. In 1861 Blackman was a
BRIGHT BOY OF SIXTEEN.
His neighbors and companions were enlist
ing for the civil war, and the spirit that was
afterwards to prompt him to deed of dis
tinguished bravery, prompted him to enlist
for the war. He Joined the Nineteenth
Maine Regiment, and with it passed through
its yicissitudes up to the battle of the Wilder
ness. In the thick of that memorable fight
the color bearer of the Nineteenth was shot
and the colors fell. Blackman sprang for
ward, raised the flag and bore it forward at
lhe nead OF the, regiment. After that,
through the terrible campaign of Grant,
wherever the
coLoRs OF THE NINETEENTH MAINE
Regiment went, Charles II. Blackman bore
them. Today those coors, barely hanging
in tattered fragments from their staff. are
Iraa Ix.rtAl 4. H. a
mentS at the South end of the Rotunda. A
very effective passage of the young lawyers
plea was his request that the Governor and
Council look at those colors and then decide
II they could, that the man who bore theDl
must remain IN prison.
AT the close of the war Blackman came
home to WOolwich. He brought with him
record of gallantry, health impaired, and. it
Is TO be feared, a too great fondness for
strong drink. he was married to the woman
VINO mas remained steadfastly true to him,
ana who today came up to the Council
Chamber to pie I'd Ter his release. Whatever
may nave been Blackman's faults during the
years Of his life from the end of the war up
TO 1850, he seems to have retained the friend
ship of the people of Woolwich and Wiscas-
set, as there has been been but one solitary
man who has protested against his pardon.
In 1850 Blackman had been
LEADING A STEADY LIFE
for four or five years. The habit of drink
ing to excess he had apparently overcome,
but disorder Of the stomach, which was
consequence of army life, redoubled to dis
comforting activity. 1t became so severe
that the Wiscasset doctor prescribed opium
Blackman took 1t in great quantities. 1t re-
lleyed the pain, but with its insidious infiu-
ence soon made itself greater curse than
tne toTlureS which 1t was invoked to alleyi-
ate. For more than two years Blackman
was its victim. Health, money, reason itself
went His
WIFE BECAME A DAY LABoRER
to gain the means to keep the family togeth-
er; and it often took TWO or three men to re-
strain him in his rawlings
One day, in 1883, Blackman was out of opi-
um. All the money was gone, too. He went
to knights drugstore in Wiscasset for it
but was refused. That night he broke into
the store and stole the opium. 1t is believed
also that he set fire to the building, for it was
fire that had caught in some paper that at
tracted the watchman's attention.
Judge Walton sentenced Blackman to ten
years IN prison. 1t was believed then to be
IN reality life sentence, as the prisoners
emaclated looks seemed to promise a speedy
he
FOUND AN ASYLUM
where the rules of the prison would control
the habit that had mastered him. He asked
for opium, but was refused The cravings
which have SO often been described as al
most irresistible, finally gave way before
the regular diet and discipline of convict's
HE From an emaciated physical wreck,
Blackman has become stout and robust
man; He is now the most trusted prisoner
at Thomaston. Hardly any oversight is
maintained over him. He is the driver of
the prison team and goes all over Thomas
ton.
The petition is not for full pardon but
1or conditional one. Blackman is conf
dent that he is free from the
OPIUM HABIT
aud can come out without danger His wife.
who wept while Mr.. Rowell was making his
plea, is also very confident that her husband
will be man agaiu if the Governor will
only let him out. She made short speech
TO the Council telling them the circunl-
stances OF the case and expressing her con-
hdence in Blackman.
OTHER CASES.
VIM. II. Looney, Esq, of Portland, was
before the Council today to present the case
of Kate Lang, now il Jail for rumselling.
She has six children who need mothers
care, and pardon was asked on these
grounds ;. l.; Carleton, Esq, of Portland,
was favorable to her pardon.
Mr.. Carleton also presented the case of
Susan Golyer. Susan, who is now in the
House of Correction, has a very impatient
lover who is anxious to make her his bride.
Sarah wants to be married, her lover is i'm
patient, and the Portland Overseers of the
Poor are willing III the banns are forbid
den it will be Governor Bodwell who stands
IN place Of the stern parent.
BAPTIST NATIONAL ANNIvERsARIEs.
The Baptist National anniversaries will be
held this year at Minneapolis, Mimi, begin
ming May oath and closing May 31st. The
international Sunday School Convention
meets at Chicago. ILL.,, on June 1st and
closes June, Sd. A special New England
Baptlst train will leave Boston Monday,
may 23d, The fare for the round trip ticket
NOMINATIONS BY THE GOVERNOR.
The Governor has nominated Richard C.
Stanley, Lewiston, State Assayer.
PARDoNED BY THE COUNCIL.
The Council voted to grant pardon to
Susan Golyer in Cumberland county Jail for
yagrancy They also heard petitions for the
pardon Of Kate Long in the same Jail for
liQuOr selling The Counni1 odiournod ~